Gazi floors Rupganj

Legends of Rupganj captain Mushfiqur Rahim (L) is bowled by Gazi Group’s Parvez Rasool during their Dhaka Premier League match at the BKSP on Thursday. — New Age photo

High-flying Legends of Rupganj were brought down to earth by Gazi Group of Cricketers in their third match of the Dhaka Premier League at the BKSP on Thursday.In a lopsided contest Gazi emerged victorious by eight wickets to make it three win in a row that helped them join reigning champions Abahani Limited at the top of the table.Left-arm pacer Abu Hider and Indian off-spinner Parvez Rasool set up the win for Gazi as they shared seven wickets between them to dismissed Rupganj for a paltry 156 runs in 47-over-a-side contest. Opener Jahirul Islam later struck an unbeaten 62 runs as Gazi knocked off their target in 36 overers.Mushfiqur-Rahim led Rupganj, who won their previous two matches in convincing manner, could have been folded for even less with further embarrassment if there was no rearguard action from their tail-enders.Hider struck in his first two overs and was joined by his new-ball partner Alauddin Babu in the demolition action to leave Rupganj 12 for three before Mahmudul Hasan and Mushfiq put 56 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the ship. Rosool bowled Mushfiq for 26 runs and Mahmudul followed his captain soon after making 30 runs to leave Rupganj in further trouble as they left tottering at 82-7.However, Mosharraf Hossain (37) and Mohammad Sharif (29) added 57 runs for the eighth wicket to give their innings some respectability before they were both dismissed by Hider.The left-arm quickie finished with 4-26 while Rasool choked Rupganj in the middle overs to grab 3-17.Gazi made a light work of their target as Jahirul, who faced 106 balls and struck six fours in his patient knock, shared 59 runs with an in-form Anamul.Mashrafee bin Murtaza trapped Anamul leg-before for 34 but Mominul Haque scored 44 runs to wipe-out all excitement from the game. Nasir Hossain, who was yet to be dismissed in this league, celebrated his recall in the national side for the tri-series in Ireland with an unbeaten 15.